The Hemant Soren-led state government on Sunday evening decided to impose a lockdown across Jharkhand with immediate effect till March 31, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though no confirmed novel coronavirus case has surfaced in Jharkhand so far, the decision was taken to curb mass contact and minimise the threat in the state.

In the order issued by the state health and family welfare department, the government said that the lockdown, clamped under the Jharkhand State Epidemic (Covid-19) Regulation 2020, and enforced under provisions of Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Act 1897, was meant to strengthen social distancing that was the need of the hour.

All offices except those dealing with emergency services will be closed during the period and employees would have to work from home, the order said.

All kinds of public transport will be barred from plying in this period except those for medical purposes. However, ration shops, takeaways or home delivery facilities of restaurants and transportation needed for storage of food, grocery, milk, bread, fruits and vegetables have been exempted.

All shops, business establishments, factories, godowns and weekly haats (rural markets) will remain closed and construction work suspended.

Persons coming to the state from abroad or other states must go into quarantine as directed by health officials.